How to Export MBOX File from Your Gmail Account, And Restore Gmail Exports Back to Gmail Account

When you’re using Gmail for your email communication, then a good thing is that it doesn’t require any additional resource (like third-party software) to export or backup your mailbox data. All your messages, and items of Gmail account can be downloaded via POP and IMAP. It’s easy to backup, export, and import your data—all you need is to sign into your account, and create an archive.

Gmail uses a single text file format to store its emails (in concentrated format—each message is saved one after the other). Also, it allows the users to restore the messages in other emailing platforms, like Apple Mail (MBOX), and Outlook PST file.

MODULE I: Export MBOX file from Gmail Account

Here’s how you can export your Gmail items in MBOX format.

Steps to download the copy of your Gmail mailbox in MBOX format.

1. To download, select message(s), launch your Google Mail by setting a label. For example, select “messages to download,” to download only the message(s) that are important to you.
2. Go to https://takeout.google.com/settings/takeout
3. Select “Select None”
   Note: Thunderbird can save only emails, as it cannot hold other data.
4. Scroll down to “Mail”, select the gray X to the right
   • To download only selected messages, click “All Mail”
   • Check “Select Labels”
   • Verify the labels that you want to download
5. Hit “Next”.
6. Do not alter the file type, select “Create Archive”.
7. The zip file is sent through your chosen delivery method. The default method sends the zip via email, containing the download link. However, the download may not be instant, as it depends upon the size of the emails you are downloading— the heavier the file is, it longer it will take to create your archive.

MODULE I: Restore Emails from MBOX file in Gmail Account using Gmail Exports

To import your Gmail items (MBOX file) into Gmail account, you have to use additional resources like installation of Thunderbird platform, and an add-on. You can use the MBOX file (as demonstrated in the previous method), containing all your email records in it.

Use the following instructions to import all emails from MBOX file to your Gmail Account

Phase I

Integrate Thunderbird with your Gmail Account

1. Download and install Thunderbird program
2. Start Thunderbird program, and select Create a new account: Email.
3. Choose “Skip this and use my existing email” option to proceed.
4. Provide your valid credentials like: name, Gmail email address, and Gmail password, and select “Continue”.
5. Ensure IMAP is selected, and then hit “Done” to save settings. Thunderbird automatically restore settings, if using Gmail.
6. Your Gmail account is displayed on the left-side of the screen and you can view your all emails.

Thunderbird is now fully setup with your Gmail account

Phase II

Download a Thunderbird Extension—ImportExportTools

1. Use this link: to https://addons.mozilla.org/en-us/thunderbird/addon/importexporttools/ to download Thunderbird add-on “ImportExportTools” on your machine.
2. Before clicking “Download Now” button, ensure that the extension supports MBOX files. Store the extension file, at the same location, where you stored the .xpi file.
3. Launch Thunderbird program.
4. Go to the menu, and click “Add-Ons”.
5. When Add-ons Manager tab opens, reach the gear icon, and click “Install Add-on From File”
6. Provide the .xpi file location, and follow the download instructions precisely.
7. Restart Thunderbird program.

Phase III

Import MBOX file emails, label it before the export

1. Launch Thunderbird application.
2. On the navigation pane, right-mouse to select “Local Folders”. Now import MBOX file to a local folder. Click ImportExportTools, and then select Import MBOX file.
3. From the option, select “Import directly one or more MBOX files” and click ‘OK’
4. Browse the folder location, where you extracted the MBOX files. Choose MBOX file that you have labeled and you want to import (as shown in Module I). Click ‘Open’ to proceed.
5. All emails will now start importing to the user-defined location.

Phase III

Import emails to Gmail Account

1. Launch Thunderbird application.
2. In the navigation pane, expand “Local Folders”. Now select the corresponding labelled folder that you want to import in Gmail.
3. Select all emails in the folder, right-click the mouse and select ‘Copy to – – ‘.
   Note: gmail_account = email address of Gmail account, and label_name = the path to the label folder that you wish to import in Gmail.
4. All emails will import to the labelled folder that you have selected. Importing may take some time to upload all MBOX emails to your Gmail Account.

Once the import process is completed, all the emails (MBOX file) are reflected in your labeled folder of your Gmail account. Log in to your email Gmail account to view and access them. However, if you find any difficulty in exporting MBOX files to Gmail account, then opt for a third-party MBOX to PST converter for safe and effortless email migration to Gmail Account and other platforms.